Hertfordshire
Gardens and drives in St Albans
Three published gardens: Guilder, Mason and Readshaw. One of them is still on a monthly visit.
Three St Albans gardens are published. Wendy Guilder’s has a circular terrace for a table, curved paths and stepping stones. Mr Mason’s began as a small patio and a failing lawn, and was rebuilt with sandstone, new fences, block edging, a deck and fresh turf; it is maintained every month. The Readshaws’ garden steps up from a conservatory patio into circles of lawn, planting and gravel.
City rear gardens are often long and private. A sitting place by the house, and a simpler area further down, suits them better than one idea stretched the full length. On the Mason plot the soil in the ground was poor, so seeding topsoil went in before the turf.
Clay gives way towards chalk across the district, so lawn preparation is judged on the garden in front of the crew. St Albans City and District Council handles preservation orders and conservation areas.
What is usually booked in St Albans
Photographs from St Albans
Wendy Guilder’s back garden
A circular table terrace in St Albans, with curved paths, stepping stones and a raised bed.
John Mason’s garden
A failing lawn in St Albans replaced with sandstone, fencing, a deck and turf, then a monthly visit.
The Readshaws’ rear garden
A conservatory patio, a low brick wall, and circles of lawn, planting and gravel.